Investment & trading encyclopedia

Understand investment products, market mechanics, indicators and research terminology. Each entry includes an explanation, example, cautions and related learning.

80 explained termsView all courses

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CommoditiesBeginner

Commodity

A commodity is a raw material or primary product, such as crude oil, copper, wheat or gold, that is largely interchangeable with other units of the same grade. Buyers care mainly about grade, quantity, location and delivery date rather than the producer.

CommoditiesIntermediate

Contango

Contango describes a futures market in which contracts for later delivery are priced above nearer-dated contracts and the spot price. The futures curve then slopes upward as maturity lengthens.